Costa Concordia captain to blame for ship wreckage

“The cruise liner was sailing too closely to the shore,” the shipowner said

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ROME, January 16 (Itar-Tass) —— Costa Concordia’s captain Francesco Schettino has made numerous “mistakes in taking the decisions” that resulted in the wreckage of the cruise liner, which hit the rocks off the Italian island Giglio, the Costa Crociere Company, which owns the wrecked liner, said in a statement made public on Monday.

“The cruise liner was sailing too closely to the shore,” the shipowner said. Meanwhile, “the captain did not observe standard procedures, which should be fulfilled in emergency situations.” The company noted that the investigation into the ship wreckage continues, but the preliminary theory is the human factor.

Costa Crociere also made apologies for the incident and offered “deep condolences to the victims of the tragedy.”

Captain Schettino is already arrested on accusations of negligence, the infliction of damages and unpremeditated murder. He is facing up to ten years in prison. Meanwhile, numerous eyewitnesses said that they saw Schettino on the shore two hours before all passengers were evacuated from the ship in distress that is a blatant violation of the naval law. The captain claimed that he was the last to leave the sinking cruise liner.

The Costa Concordia cruise liner, which was carrying over 4,200 people, hit the rocks off the Giglio Island near the coast of the Italian province Toscana. Five people died and more than 70 people were injured in the ship wreckage. According to the latest reports, the fate of 15 people is unclear.